106 rilK I'Kl.NCll'LKS OF AGRICULTUKE. 



pri\iiig' the soil <>l' the presenec of living roots, 'which 

 would absorb and liold these elements, they arc liable to 

 be lost as fast as formed, unless the soil from its nature 

 is able to retain them. 



In general, the answer to the question will (lc])t'nd 

 u])on the nature of the soil, the climate, and the })articu- 

 lar crop to be raised. 



A clayey or mucky soil woidd be free from the olgcc- 

 tion mentioned, while in the case of a sandy or gravelly 

 soil the loss by washing might be greater than the gain 

 by exposure to the atniosj^hcrc. 



In cold climates, "where the ground i-euiains frozen 

 through the winter, there can be no loss during tliis 

 season, and jdowing in the fall gives land the benefit of 

 the crumbling and disintegrating effect of frost. 



In climates where the ground does not freeze, and 

 where rain is abundant during winter, thei'e is a liability 

 of large loss })oth by washing out the soluble elements, 

 and l)y washing away the finest and richest parts of 

 the soil. 



For raising particular crojis there may be sjiecial rea- 

 sons for i)lowing in the fall or in the spring, according 

 to the special wants of the crop. While ground jdowcd 

 in the fall has received certain changes from exposure to 

 the air and the action of frost, that jdowed in the spring 

 will natiii'ally l)e more loose and porous. 



Harrowing. — Next to the plow, the harrow is the most 

 impoi-tant im))lement of agricultui'c. The ])urj»ose of 

 harrowiug is cliiefly to ])ul\'erizo and level the soil, and 

 a Ihorougli ])erformauce of this work alTords all the gen- 

 ei'al advantages of tillag(\ It ]»repai-es the soil for roots, 

 admits air, favors the formation of plant food, and 

 thoroughly mixes fertilizers with the soil. Experiments 



